A long, fraught history
Much as Henry and Tommie Aaron combined to hit 768 big league home runs, the Rangers and Canadiens have combined to win 28 Stanley Cups. That the Habs account for 24 of them — but not the most recent — is just a pure trifle of history. The Post’s Larry Br
2014 E. CONFERENCE FINALS Rangers 4, Montreal 2.
This contained as much animosity as any series the Blueshirts have played in the salary cap era, with: A) Chris Kreider KOing Carey Price via a goal-mouth collision in the second period of Game 1; B) Derek Stepan’s jaw being broken by a Brandon Prust Game 3 headshot that earned the one-time Broadway fan favorite a two-game suspension; C) aspersions cast by each coaching staff onto the other; D) a John Moore headshot on Dale Weise in Game 5 that earned the New York defenseman a two-game ban. As for the hockey, the Blueshirts took the first two in Montreal behind the brilliance of Henrik Lundqvist, who then posted a 1-0 shutout for the clincher in Game 6 at the Garden behind Dominic Moore’s goal.
1996 FIRST ROUND Rangers 4, Montreal 2. Mike Richter put on a show in leading the Rangers to four straight victories after dropping the first two at the Garden. The goaltender, spectacular at Bell Centre in Montreal’s first playoffs after the move from the Forum, would repeat his heroics in the building five months later in Team USA’s World Cup triumph over Team Canada. 1986 WALES CONFERENCE FINALS Montreal 4, Rangers 1.
Game 3 at MSG is recognized as one of the great goaltending displays in playoff history, with Canadiens’ rookie goaltender Patrick Roy making 44 saves overall that included 13 straight in overtime — with many being spectacular — before Claude Lemieux’s goal at 9:41 gave the Canadiens a 4-3 victory and a 3-0 lead in the series.
1979 STANLEY CUP FINALS Montreal 4, Rangers 1.
After losing a one-sided opener, the Canadiens opted to bench Ken Dryden for the first time in his playoff career in Game 2 for backup Bunny Larocque. But Larocque was hit in the head by a shot from Doug Risebrough during warm-ups and was unable to play. Dryden allowed two quick goals but the Canadiens stormed back to win, 6-2, en route to four straight victories and a fourth straight Cup.
1974 FIRST ROUND Rangers 4, Montreal 2.
Wee Bruce MacGregor recorded six goals with linemates Pete Stemkowski and Teddy Irvine scoring four and two respectively as the Blueshirts rallied to win the final three games to knock out the defending Cup champs. Larocque was the Montreal goaltender, with Dryden sitting out the season in a contract dispute.
1972 FIRST ROUND Rangers 4, Montreal 2.
The Blueshirts won twice at the Forum, including a series-clinching 3-2 victory over the defending Cup champs, as Bobby Rousseau starred against this former team.
1969 FIRST ROUND Montreal 4, Rangers 0.
General manager/ coach Emile Francis benched Eddie Giacomin for the final match of a non-competitive sweep, going instead with Gilles Villemure, who had played four games that season.
1967 FIRST ROUND Montreal 4, Rangers 0.
Red Berenson hit the post in overtime of Game 4 before John Ferguson ended it. The Blueshirts, in the playoffs for the first time since 1962, blew a 4-1 Game 1 lead at the Forum with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third period.
1957 FIRST ROUND Montreal 4, Rangers 1.
Andy Hebenton scored in overtime for a Game 2 victory at the Garden before the Canadiens captured the final three at the Forum, clinching the series on Rocket Richard’s overtime goal.
1956 FIRST ROUND Montreal 4, Rangers 1.
The Blueshirts were buried by an aggregate 22-5 deficit in their four defeats, getting their only victory behind goaltender Gordie Bell in Game 2. Bell, who had not played in the NHL since 1946, started twice in place of Gump Worsley.
1950 FIRST ROUND Rangers 4, Montreal 1.
Chuck Rayner starred in nets for the Blueshirts, recording an upset in a series where only Game 3 was in New York.
1935 FIRST ROUND
Rangers won two-game total-goals series, 6-5, clinching it with 4-4 Game 2 draw in Montreal.
1933 FIRST ROUND
Rangers won two-game total-goals series, 8-5 as first step toward a second Stanley Cup victory in six years.
1932 SEMIFINALS Rangers 3, Montreal 1.
Bun Cook scored at 59:32 of OT to win Game 2 in Montreal in what remains the longest playoff game victory for the Blueshirts.
1930 SEMIFINALS Montreal 2, Rangers 0.
The Blueshirts bowed out after losing the quadruple-overtime opener on a goal by the Habs’ Gus Rivers.